While Major League Soccer teams head into the final weeks of preseason and players in the North American Soccer League and USL PRO teams are finalizing their 2012 plans, Aaron Hohlbein (Middleton/UW) is in Madison working to get healthy and hoping for a shot with one of those teams later this season.

Images courtesy of the man himself, Lance Parker.

Footballer and male model, Lance Parker, is obviously cool with posing in his underwear.

Coincidentally, we are too.

Since he seemed down for our interview games and uncontrollable flirting tactics, we decided to spice up our Q&A style a bit.

Controversy Surrounds MLS' Home Grown Rule | College Soccer Recruiting News

This is part two of a two part series with Real Salt Lake's GM and an agent that has negotiated an HGP deal. More light is getting shined on this rapidly developing portion of the American soccer system every couple of weeks.

photo by Howard C. Smith/ISIphotos.com

Conmebol's Copa America is the oldest international continental tournament in soccer, and 2016 will mark its 100th birthday.

That could also be the year that many American soccer fans have a dream come true.

According to Mexican outlet mediotiempo.

One thing American soccer fans, especially MLS fans, obsess over is attendance statistics. In the general public we are a minority "niche" sport, casual Americans don't care, steeped in foreign-ness and all things immigrant. Never mind that high school participation has not seen a decrease since it was first tracked and soccer is the number 5 sport in high school for boys and girls (the girls are soon to take #4 away from softball).

Amazingly enough, Footiebusiness is about to start its 4th year of covering the business of American soccer. It has been a great ride and one that I hope to continue to enjoy and improve. When I started the site, I had no idea how long it would last, whether there was any interest in the business aspects of American soccer or whether anyone would read what I wrote.

Featured image: Courtesy Dan Morrison and bethlehemsteelsoccer.org

The 1913-14 season saw the launch of the National Challenge Cup, the competition now known as the US Open Cup, by the recently founded United States Football Association. While the National Challenge Cup would quickly become the singular competition for the title of Champion of the United States, the American Cup tournament had been founded in 1885 by the American Football Association, the first soccer governing body in America.

Josh Gatt is not a player many American soccer fans have seen play, but he is already considered one of the best young Americans playing in Europe.

The speedy Michigan native has enjoyed an outstanding start to his professional career, going from 18-year-old newcomer to 20-year-old transfer target, having already made one upward move from Austrian club SCR Rheindorf Altach to Norwegian champions Molde.

If you're a fan of American soccer and have ears then you need to be listening to "The Best Soccer Show" with Jason Davis and Jared DuBois on the North American Soccer Network.
Each Monday and Wednesday (a live show) the pair ruminate on the American game, players, news, views, and get some great interviews with personalities in and around the sport.

If you're a fan of the "wobble wobble" aka dubstep and American soccer you're going to love this new video by Jimmy Diebold playing with the lights at Century Link Field, the home stadium for Major League Soccer's Seattle Sounders (and some silly NFL team, too).
Just splice some goal highlights, Kasey Keller saves, or some player running up-field making some ball moves to the music and you've got something even sexier.

The Montreal Impact announced on Friday that more than 25,000 tickets were already sold for the home opener at Olympic Stadium, March 17, against the Chicago Fire.

The Impact are hoping to create a new record for attendance at the Olympic Stadium with additional sales leading up to the home opener.

The @BestSoccerShow's Jared Dubois says American soccer went pop when it should have went hip-hop.

If you are lucky to live long enough, you get the scary gift of watching the decades go by before your eyes.

Green Day went saccharin in a hurry...as did US Soccer says Jared DuBois.

Coach Tozer thanks the fans after his 700th victory. By: Brandon Arendt
On a day that saw literally everything go Milwaukee's way, history was made. Wave Coach, Keith Tozer, became the first coach in American Soccer to reach a historic 700 victories. All on the legs of a dominating 25-10 performance by the Wave over Syracuse.

Sebastien Le Toux could be announced as a Vancouver Whitecaps player as soon as tomorrow, with no player going sent to the Philadelphia Union in return, according to Irfaan Gaffar.

The soccer reporter announced over Twitter that the deal to bring Le Toux back to the Pacific Northwest, known affectionately as Cascadia to North American soccer fans, would happen this week.

Relive the 2010 World Cup through this amazing documentary by One Goal. Their film project followed the American Outlaws (and other American soccer fans) to South Africa. Their footage shows the amazing passion for soccer in the United States and the future for the sport in this country.

By Dario Camacho - MIAMI, FL (Jan 30, 2011) US Soccer Players -- When we see the recent success of former and current Major League Soccer players in England, it has to feel good for fans of North American soccer. An ex-Revolution player outrunning a pair of defenders en route to a triplet of goals was a cathartic, ecstatic moment for those of us rooting for Fulham's Clint Dempsey.

As we discussed when commenting on the new MLS Spring destination in Arizona, preseason is a great opportunity to sell the sport and the league in a less formal setting. MLS seems to be making use of this opportunity and allowing fans to connect to players and teams in the off season. Over the weekend, the New York Times took a look at the league's relationship with the City of Tucson, where a number of MLS franchises are spending a portion of the preseason.

U.S. Soccer fans were dialed in to yesterdays' FA Cup fourth round clash between Everton and Fulham that featured Tim Howard, Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey. The home side walked out 2-1 winners, with Donovan serving up assists on both goals for the Toffees. The win was the first for Everton against Fulham in their FA Cup history.

Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan, the two best field players in American soccer, and two of the most popular players in American soccer history, are set to do battle today in the FA Cup (3pm, Fox Soccer Channel).

Today's Fulham-Everton clash serves as the perfect event to showcase the match-up of two players who have been U.

In a much anticipated match up, Tim Howard, Landon Donovan, and Everton host Clint Dempsey and Fulham in a FA Cup clash that American soccer fans will be eager to watch.

By FRANCO PANIZO

Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey have shared plenty of moments throughout their careers as the top two attacking threats of the U.S. men's national team, but they will not be celebrating together on Friday.

The two American stars are set to face off for the first time since 2006 when Everton and Fulham do battle in the fourth round of the FA Cup (3pm, Fox Soccer Channel).

The logo of Detroit City FC does not feature a cartoon soccer ball. In fact, it doesn't say or show soccer anywhere on it: instead, in grand but subdued tones of burgundy and gold, the badge is dominated by a classy representation of the statue below, the Spirit of Detroit in the city's downtown:

This is the identity that Detroit City FC have pinned themselves to.

The logo of Detroit City FC does not feature a cartoon soccer ball. In fact, it doesn't say or show soccer anywhere on it: instead, in grand but subdued tones of burgundy and gold, the badge is dominated by a classy representation of the statue below, the Spirit of Detroit in the city's downtown:

This is the identity that Detroit City FC have pinned themselves to.

On the eve of the much-anticipated American Civil War between Everton and Fulham, American soccer fans are relishing the chance to see three of their best players take the pitch at the same time at the highest level of competition. ...
Visit http://www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com for the rest of the story.

Last night the US Soccer's "Camp Cupcake" Team followed up Saturday night's 1-0 win over Venezuela with a 1-0 win over Panama. I admit that the "Camp Cupcake" moniker is not my favorite for the annual US Soccer winter camp that primarily gives numerous MLS players and some European journeymen an extended audition for the US National Team, but I think it's important to use this moniker in light of the apparent "every match is a live or die match" attitude that seems to dominate the most vocal of the US Soccer fan base.

It's about time, right? We've got ourselves a U.S. National Team writer. Mike Cardillo, who we've been reading for YEARS on his site, "That's On Point", for US preview/reviews and English Premier League musings will be providing some coverage of the Nats as they begin their 2014 World Cup Qualifying campaign.

U.S. 1, Panama 0. First thing's first, there is a special ring of purgatory reserved for an American soccer blogger/writer with the temerity to poo-poo a result on foreign soil ... even in a no-stakes friendly. In that regard, let's say a hearty well done for Graham Zusi for being Johnny on the spot and scoring inside of 11 minutes and the rest of the U.

It's high time again for another hat trick and QOTD. Today's piece will focus a bit more on the USMNT as a couple of big games loom tonight and this weekend. One of the matchups includes two American soccer icons in a clash this weekend, which should make for must watch TV. Also follow after the break to have your say in the QOTD.

Chicago Fire players pose in their new Quaker Oats sponsored jerseys. (Photo Credit: Chicago Fire)Last week we posted the news and a snazzy video announcing that the Chicago Fire had landed a new jersey sponsor, Quaker Oasts, after an empty-chested 2011. Given that several Major League Soccer clubs do not have shirt sponsors (by choice or otherwise), these news releases are always a sign of forward progress for American soccer.

Major League Soccer gets another boost in their profile as another organization reconfigures their tournament to aid their members. CONCACAF, the soccer sanctioning body for the North and Central American soccer playing clubs and nations in conjuction with FIFA, has dramatically altered the format of their Champions League tourney starting with the 2012 - 2013 edition.

Featured image: Bobby Moore, Gerry Francis and Pele before the Team America vs. England game at JFK

The news that PPL Park will be host the 2012 MLS All-Star Game means that Philadelphia will be the host of a major pro sport All-Star event for the first time since the NBA came to town in 2002.

On the latest edition of the Major League Soccer Talk Podcast : This Week in US Soccer, your hosts Chris Webb and Chris Riordan bring you discussion of the latest North American soccer happenings. The crew starts out going through ...
Visit http://www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com for the rest of the story.

Despite the unbalanced nature of the 2012 Cascadia Cup, the three biggest supporters groups of the Seattle Sounders, Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps elected to have each game count equally toward the trophy.

Various options had been discussed, such as counting just one home game for each team or weighting road results differently, but there was apparently near universal support to make the competition's rules as straight forward as possible.

United States National Team coach Jurgen Klinsmann has been announced as the opening speaker for the 2012 US Youth Soccer Workshop on February 17th, the organization announced on Tuesday. "We are extremely excited to have Jurgen Klinsmann join us at the US Youth Soccer Workshop in Boston," US Youth Soccer president John Sutter said.

Former Boston Breakers (WPS) General Manager, Andy Crossley, runs a great site called Fun While It Lasted where I love to go to see the great history and information he digs up about minor league franchises that have come and gone in the American sports landscape. I especially enjoy anytime he posts something regarding soccer teams that once played in the D.

Ahh. I've finished my exams. I can say it's been a very long week, and I'll be getting my grades back tomorrow. Fingers crossed, people.

But, beside talking about me, I want to point out that this was an immensely significant week for American soccer, and one that really gives us a glimpse into where it'll be going in the near future.

Jon Levy The national team hasn't even suited up in 2012, but it's already been an encouraging year for American soccer. Dempsey and Donovan (for two months, at least) are both leading the line of attack for their respective English Premier League teams, the Women's National Teamers avoided a would-be tragedy in their Vancouver hotel [.

The biggest MLS story of the off-season hit Los Angeles on Thursday, as news of David Beckham's return to the LA Galaxy made headlines around the world.

What does Beckham's return really mean for the Galaxy, MLS and American soccer? Here is my Fox Soccer column on what it means, and how we got to this point.

MLS Reserves will be hosting a music video contest in which fans will create a music video for their favorite North American team. Choose your favorite North American soccer team (MLS, NASL, USL, PDL, NPSL, etc) and create a music video tribute to them. You may use pictures or video from wherever you find it, the only requirements are that you use the MLS Reserves logo or the website URL at some point in the video.

Buy low, sell high. It might be the oldest rule in business.

So if Philadelphia Union was ever going to sell Sebastien Le Toux, now's the time.

At 28, Le Toux is in his prime. He may never be worth more than he is right now.

Bolton has never needed to buy good players for bargain prices more than right now, as they desperately try to avoid a relegation that could devastate the club financially.